Recent Blog Entries

  • 18 hours ago
    Posted by Dion Todd
    Yahweh said to Joshua, "Get up! Why have you fallen on your face like that?" Joshua 7:10 WEB.Joshua lay prostrate before the ark of the Lord all that evening. Yesterday, he had been a mighty warrior. Now Israel had lost the battle at Ai, all because one of the men with him had become greedy and brok...
  • Wed at 3:01 AM
    Posted by Dion Todd
    Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, "Don't fight with small nor great, except only with the king of Israel." When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "It is the king of Israel!" Therefore they turned around to fight against him. But Jehoshap...
  • Tue at 3:01 AM
    Posted by Dion Todd
    But Naaman was angry, and went away and said, "Behold, I thought, 'He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper' " 2 Kings 5:11 WEB.Naaman stared at his new skin with amazement when he came up from the muddy wa...
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  • March 25, 2022 - led by Lynn Brown
    This is a group for RHM sponsored events like corporate fasts. Everyone is welcome to join and participate in things currently going on in the ministry. We love you and thank you for being a part of Refreshing Hope!
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RHM Newsletter 32 and Video Devotional

  • RHM News and Devotional: Time to Shine from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

    Hurricane Michael blew past us this week. Here there was only a little rain, a little wind and things are returning to normal. We are still cut off from our town of Conway as the road is flooded out. My heart goes out to those in the Florida Panhandle who endured a category 4 hurricane coming onshore. May the Lord give them abundant grace.

    We are looking into installing an electrical transfer switch so our portable generator can power the office here, and relocating some things so that we can keep RHM online in the event of an extended power outage.

    We have had several electrical outages this year. That is one of the perks of living near the eastern seaboard. To be honest, I believe that until Jesus returns, that storms like this will only grow more intense. So prepare yourself as best you can; we do. A ten pound bag of white rice and a bag of dried pinto beans can last a decade, costs very little, and in an emergency, you can eat for a long time.

    Introduction: This morning, we are going to be doing things slightly different. I want to thank you all for coming. As many of know, Sylvia and I fast the months that begin with the letter A: April and August.

    This is purely personal preference that took us a while to settle in on. So that this will not be taken as a word from the Lord, or coming from the Bible, I want to take a moment to explain why we do this. We tried fasting the month of February once. It was freezing cold, and when you are hungry, it is even colder. Even when fasting in the summer, you will find that a blanket feels nice. As for fasting in the winter, that is something that I lack the words to explain. You would just have to experience it.

    That February was long a miserable month, and then we suddenly discovered that Valentine’s Day came right in the middle of it. We have always had a candlelight dinner on Valentine’s Day so we kind of felt cheated. It was the same with November, because of Thanksgiving. We tried various months. Sylvia’s birthday is in March, our anniversary is in June, my birthday is in July. Those are all week long events here, and they involve good food.

    So that is why we have settled into fasting the months of April and August. It helps us break out of patterns, reset our diet, lose a good bit of weight, and get a fresh vision from the Lord all in one shot. There is always a result, but sometimes it is beyond our understanding at the time.

    For example, in August 2012 I began working as a Pastor. We fasted the month of August 2013 and at the end of the month, I was suddenly laid off. It was not the result that I was looking for, but we ended up working from home, maintaining servers for people, etc.

    The next year we fasted, and at the end the month, we felt led to start Refreshing Hope Ministries. That is long story that developed over a weekend, that I will share with you some other time.

    The following year we felt led to start an online church here. The next year, Guideposts magazine called us on the last day the fast and invited me to speak at their national conference. What I want to be clear is that a long fast is always life changing in some way.

    I said all of that to say this: we fasted the month of August 2018 and both felt that a change was coming to RHM Live. In short, we are busy making sandwiches that no one ordered. We have spent a year studying the Bible a chapter at a time, and apparently there is little interest or need for this today. People’s attention span is very short and you lose them after a few moments. If you look over the Bible study blog posts, most do not even have a single comment, whereas our shorter devotional may have several thousand views.

    While we believe having a detailed Bible Study is a worthwhile goal, it is also very time consuming and our life often centers around completing it each week. It takes me days to produce a meaningful message, which takes away from being able to focus on other projects that are also important. By the end of August, I knew that change was coming, but I hoped to complete the book of Acts first. As you know, every single week since August has been a struggle, a fight to get it online that we often lose. So we are making a change that begins this morning.

    For a long time, I have wanted to do some devotional-length videos that we could share on Facebook, three to five minutes tops. So for a while, I plan to share a devotional here on RHM Live, and record those to a short video.

    The plan at the moment is that the first Sunday of the month, we will still study a Bible chapter and have Communion together. The other weeks, I plan to spend more time writing devotionals and books, writing and recording music, upgrading and enhancing the online church here at RHM.

    So thank you all for coming this morning. That is what’s going on here at RHM. Let’s do some praise and worship and then I will share a short message with you.

    Devotional: Time to Shine

    1 Samuel 17:33–36 WEB  Saul said to David, You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. David said to Saul, Your servant was keeping his father’s sheep; and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after him, and struck him, and delivered it out of his mouth; and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and struck him, and killed him. Your servant struck both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.

    The day that David walked out on the battlefield to meet the giant, Goliath ,was not his first time fighting something big and scary. God had been preparing David for years while he was tending sheep in a common, everyday, typical job. Shepherding was a job that none of his brothers wanted to do. Out of the eight sons, David was the only one tending sheep on the day that Samuel came to visit them. Some of his brothers were soldiers in the Israelite army (1Samuel 17:17).

    While protecting those sheep, David learned to kill lions and bears. Now there was a giant in front of him. It did not happen by accident. God had trained David for this day, and now it was his time to shine. David did not start out facing giants, he started by tending sheep. God prepares you for his work ahead of time, sometimes using the most mundane things. Most of the time, we don’t even know that we are in training.

    I spent twenty years working on computer networks, mail servers, web servers, and the supporting infrastructure. Now I use the things that I learned along the way to build an online church here at Refreshing Hope Ministries. God is efficient and He wastes nothing. He will use the things that He has placed in your life to further His kingdom.

    The common, everyday tasks that you deal with daily are always preparing you for something bigger. The skills that you develop in the natural can be used by Him. So do your best at whatever He has given you today, and when the time comes, you will be ready for the promotion just like David.

    Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray that You let me see my life through Your eyes for a change. Show me how I can make a difference and let me experience divine encounters in my life. Teach me, train me, use me Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.


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25 comments
  • 1
Heidi Chiandussi
Heidi Chiandussiedited: October 14, 2018

..what ...i love your bible study ...but your right..theres not many that post ...i will post ..something please dont stop doing the bible study . ...i wanted to do the whole bible with you ...

October 14, 2018
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

Aww hey there, Heidi! We know you have been so faithful to keep up with the Bible Study! We plan to continue doing it for now, but just on a monthly basis - that is probably a better balance for most, including us :)

October 14, 2018
  • 1
Heidi Chiandussi
Heidi Chiandussi

Thank you sylvia for offering the bible study ...sometimes i like just to hear it when i am getting ready for my day ...i read it then again and then i take the test ...i love how simple and easy it is to understand ..your husband makes it ...i think alot more people have to read the word of God ..thank you for all your hard work

October 14, 2018
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

That is wonderful, sister, you are such a blessing <3!

October 14, 2018
  • 1
Heidi Chiandussi
Heidi Chiandussi

But i do understand its alot of work to do a online bible study ...

October 14, 2018
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

So appreciate your understanding, Heidi :)! We are happy with the content of the Bible Study, but I think this will provide room for other things, too!

October 14, 2018
  • 1
Heidi Chiandussi
Heidi Chiandussi

But i think we do need to study the bible ...today ...i tried to read it own my own but i just didnt understand it ... ...i love doing your tests that i see what i remembered ..

October 14, 2018
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

Very glad that they have helped you, Heidi! Dion puts a lot of work into making those quizzes and I know he will appreciate that :)!

October 14, 2018
  • 1
Maureen Germain
Maureen Germainedited: October 14, 2018

Are we still going to have the bible study quizzes? Maybe I am not clear on what is going on. Are you talking about the Bible study quizzes, or the bible we talk about on Sunday, or both? Thank you. (L)

October 14, 2018
  • 2
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

Hey Moe :)! We are talking about both - the quiz goes with the chapter. So, as least as far as our plans, we will do a Bible Study chapter at the first Sunday of the month, including the quiz. The other weeks of the month will be a more devotional-type message :)

October 15, 2018
  • 1
Maureen Germain
Maureen Germain

Ok, Well, I love the tests, I hope they are still there, I didn't check that yet, I'm going now as I need that, it helps so much because i'm a trivia person so I love quizzes, it helps me to learn more. Love you both so much!! (L)

October 21, 2018
  • 1
MP Taylor
MP Taylor

I'll have to make sure to mark the first Sunday on my phone calender so I don't miss it. I know I haven't been commenting, but  I love the historical details and the perspective that Pastor Dion brings to bible study. It really brings it alive for me and makes it more clear. 

October 14, 2018
  • 2
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

Hey sis :)! What a lovely compliment - I know Dion will appreciate that <3! So glad that it has blessed you and even if you miss that Sunday, it will be there later :). Are you on the mailing list for RHM Live? I send out emails when the posts are ready, so that should be a reminder, too :)!

October 15, 2018
  • 1
MP Taylor
MP Taylor

I am on the mailing list for RHM live, so yeah that will help too! :)

October 16, 2018
  • 2
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

Ok perfect, sis :)!

October 16, 2018
  • 1
Liesel  aka  Lisa Wardle
Liesel aka Lisa Wardleedited: October 15, 2018

Amen and Amen! Yes, Lord, please teach me, train me, lead me, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!!!

Yes, to your question in regards to the newsletter, Bible study, and everything else, I'd like to be included and informed, thank you so much for all that you do!!!

October 15, 2018
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

Thank you for the feedback, Liesel :)!

October 15, 2018
  • 1
Liesel  aka  Lisa Wardle
Liesel aka Lisa Wardleedited: October 15, 2018

One more thing: Your Bible study has been my weekly highlight, helping me so much in my walk with the Lord, obviously also the joint worship and praise and prayers. I love your devotions and testimonials, but I also understand all the work and planning that goes on behind the scene that we can't see that you do despite of the many obstacles coming your way! The Lord sees it all!!! I'm counting my blessings to have you both and your ministry in my life!!! May the Lord bless you and keep you, put His hedge and shield round about you, and keep you from harm (L)

October 15, 2018
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

So appreciate your understanding, sister <3! It is indeed a continuing work to find the right balance :)

October 15, 2018
  • 1
Jay Jerisek
Jay Jerisek

 

Pastor Dion,

I enjoyed the Bible study and quiz I am sorry I didn't comment on it. I didn't realize that I should have commented to show my interest so I feel partly responsible for it's demise. I ask your forgiveness for this oversite.

I do also enjoy the daily "semonette" posts and read them every day if this helps.

October 16, 2018
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

Hey there, Jay :)! No need to feel badly, all things work towards his plans! Sure, the comments were part of the decision, but so were the views of the posts and other things, like the list of things we had been wanting to work on and didn't have time because of working on the Bible Study. We are still going to continue with the study, just on a less frequent basis, which is more fitting for the schedule, and maybe even for the time that some people need to go over all the content :). God bless, brother!

October 16, 2018
  • 1
Richard Mondello
Richard Mondello

I always click on the like this  article after I read the bible study and devotionals even when I don't leave a comment. And of course, you see the test results after I take the quizes. Your bible study helped me understand better especially with the added historical background info. Sorry to see it go but I do appreciate y'alls time, effort and Holy Spirits leading. Looking forward to what Holy Spirit has in store for us. Bless y'all..........

October 27, 2018
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

Hi Richard! The Bible Study is not gone, just moving to once a month :). 

October 27, 2018
  • 1
Richard Mondello
Richard Mondello

Right, I understand. Thanks. I'm about a week behind on everything with starting so early at work and some other personal issues that I'm dealing with. Thank the Lord and y'all for being here even when my faith is floundering.

October 27, 2018
  • 1
Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd

Aww ok, we are so glad you are part of the family here, Richard, and praying over all that is going on there this week <3!

October 27, 2018